Peninsular Power

30km done salt stained top. Wind played havoc with my mohican.

A 2.6km warm up at home with Sascha (the dog) then out to the Redcliffe for a long run on Sunday. I looked at my watch after two K's on thought that's pretty quick for so little effort! I didn't realize I must have been blown along by the wind. Running Westerly, Southerly and then Easterly and then reversed, I had both the benefit and burden of very strong winds all the way. There were white caps and waves at Margate where you very rarely see them due the calming influence of Moreton Island out in the bay.
I was enjoying just ticking off the K's, nice and steady, not pushing it. 
I was going to turn around at 10k but had just ran through all the market stalls at Redcliffe and didn't want to face that again so soon and as I felt pretty easy, decided to run on to 15K which is the Ted Smout bridge. The wind had me bent over double at some sections.

Finished off 30K's at 4;05 kms and loved the fact that my black top was covered in salt stains. Tried to take a photo to capture it but didn't come out in the picture.
A nice easy week planned for me now just steady running and maybe a few rides.

Glasshouse Mountains in background

Photos from Caloundra Foreshore 10KM

Results are here;

Caloundra Foreshore 10km 1st 33;36

I have raced this 4 times previously, 1st, 2nd , 3rd and 'got lost' last time I ran it in 2010!
It mostly  hugs the foreshore pathway from Golden to Moffat Beach. There are a few sections where your out on the road . Mostly cement path but some boardwalk and some paving stone sections (dangerously slippy when wet like today). Towards the finish the course rises over a couple of headlands short sharp killer hills!
Up at 5.00am for 7th day in a row and out the door at 5.30 for the hours drive to Golden Beach. 2km warm up and feeling yesterdays run in my legs. 
No sign of Jacko, Clay (going to run sub 2;30 on the Goldie) or Hintsa or any of the usual suspects that take the honours - I may just have a chance! 
We used to start on the pathway but in the few years since I've competed they have closed off the road and had us spread out across it = much better!
Slight false start and I'm having kittens trying to check if I paused and unpaused correctly and am recording the run! I hear it beep at 1km -  it must be working ;-)
So me and a young lad from Pacific Athletic Club - didn't know at the time it was Bryan McManus a medicine student in his last year at uni. At about 3k he starts to gap me and I think that's ok I'm not going to bust a gut in this race and I'm actually in overall 2nd place (wow that's $200!). At 4k I'm back with him and I think he lets me lead (to do some of the work - tactically). I hear his footfall and then it starts getting distant and then I cant hear it! I'm clear in the lead at 5km - I'm only going to win this race overall ($500!!). I ran consistently always asking the volunteers to confirm directions (I did get lost remember), I cant hear any cheering for 2nd place (I never look round), this is as comfortable as it gets!
The tough rises knock the stuffing out of me towards the finish but I am happy to run comfortably across the line in 33;29 (most watches had the distance 100/150m short).
Bryan was second in about 34;10.
The ladies race really did have some class. 
Cassie Fine beat Clair Geraghty.

At 52 years of age I know these wins will be fewer and fewer so I must savour the sweetness of victory what a way to cap to an awesome/terrific weekend!!



2006 2nd 34;49
2007 1st 34;22
2008 3rd 32;58
2010 DNF
2014 1st 33;36

Sandgate parkrun 2nd 15;53

1500m warm up a few strides had a bit of stomach cramp which made me pensive about performance.
Said hello to Peter Bracken at the start, and we are off!
Initially get left checking my Garmin has started! Sprint to 2nd but can't overtake kid in lead! Kid turns out to be David Lean tall but looks about 15! Later find out we blast through first K in 3;02, settle into stride but have this feeling not going fast enough so try and overtake David but each time he pulls up level with me!
Dog walkers across the pathway have me screaming TRACK! Indignant looks as we scrape past.
This happens twice.
On the road beside us  large peletons of bike riders are finishing their long Saturday rides about to head for the nearest coffee shop / that isnt part of the runners culture is it?
At the turnaround David still leads me, my watch is on auto scroll so I miss the time but see 3:10 must be average K's "hey that's OK!"
We have a smaller gap on Peter and the others than I'm used to seeing / hey why am I feeling so bad? Why cant I get past this kid?
We run into the field coming at us spread across the path my attempts to overtake are again thwarted as we are forced to run single file. Again glance at the watch and it reads 18.6 kmph ? That's OK?? But still think we are going to slow but because of need to run Indian file behind David I resign myself to not getting sub 16!
As we get the bendy bit on the pathway I glance at my watch and it reads 15:00 wow surely I'm within a minute of the finish??
David pulls away slightly and I think about the 3second gap I let slip on young Alex a few weeks back and though I'm not inclined to 'race' him as such, I close back up and get to the finish line within a second of him.
I take a few minutes to recover before I check my watch for my time, wow did I really run that!
Happy to go sub 16 and achieve a soft season goal.
We are both given 15:53, for me worth a 94.3% age grading , my best ever!

Another perfect day Winter Solstice 2014

Start

Finish

15;53

15;53

Racing Seb

I think the anti inflammatory drugs have the side affect of giving me  horrendous mouth ulcers - does anyone else suffer this? I have stopped taking them this week and am now suffering with sore knees. I look positively geriatric when I am walking downstairs to the point that I'm almost embarrassed by my laboured steps. At home I walk down backwards!
I have to find a balance between the anti inflams /knee pain or mouth ulcers.

Saying that I have had a good weeks training.

21K on Sunday at 4;07 with all the aches and pains of the duathlons still in the legs. 
A 15K 4;00 lunchtime run on Tuesday - with a very fast return portion.
A 5 X 1km 'round the houses' road session yesterday morning (when it is so hard to get going). 
Fitness wise, I'm in good shape. 
I'm just over 60kg with a huge reduction in beer intake (I didn't even have a beer to watch the State of Origin [drown my sorrows!}). It wont be long before I'm sub 60kg and I cant ever remember being that in my adult life!
I may give Sandgate a burl on Saturday and Caloundra on Sunday (it is not a PB course). Less than 3 weeks to the Gold Coast (10km) which is the goal race.

My buddie Stu Moore (8) in his Cambridge 'Blue' chasing Seb (in African Violet) at the Palace.
Probably the British Universities Champs about 1980.

My buddie Jimmy Espir (9) leading Seb (early 80's)

This morning I got out on the bike (raised the saddle!) for 20km on very wet roads, then this afternoon I ran 15km along the river in 4;05's.

Masters Legends

Masters Legends Peter Reeves [full beard and dark glasses far left] and Barry Broe (second right, glaring at camera].

National Masters Superstars Peter Reeves and Barry Broe have been paid a handsome retainer to advertise Endura alongside local legend Jacko Elliott!
Reports that Reeves resting heart rate is in the region 35bpm were confirmed by his own start line analysis. Barry won the prize for intimidation on the start line.

2014 Moreton Bay Grand Prix - Duathlon

Results from the weekend 
- I've never before competed in a race where 4 Sweeney's took part or ever been beaten by another Sweeney!

15th in the Sprint and 24th in Long and first over 50 (only 5 old guys took part - there were 105 starters in the Sprint and 99 in the long.

Here's a screen shot of the two results; Sprint then Long;

The cycling weakness was shown up in the long course.

Francis is my set up wrong?

Yes Courtney I 'm as old as your father!

How do I hop on without losing a bollock?

The first Sweeny to ever beat Sweeney

Constantly had to change my line as I got overtaken to avoid drafting

Ladies before Gents, after you madam. I followed this lady for what seemed like the whole race, overtaking and being overtook, a real ding dong till the final run.

All photos are copyrightZeropointzerophotography.

Keith is back and Pete is flying.

Seems like quite some time since we've seen Keith Bateman racing but I noticed last week he ran parkrun in an outrageous 16;27 - probably taking it easy on what looked like a hilly course for a 95.85% age grading. Fabulous running!
Today I note that Pete has checked out why I run at Sandgate. He's only gone and smashed my age grade record running 17;11 for 93.31% - in my back yard the cheeky so and so! He has topped the Australian Age Grade ladder this week by a whopping 7%! Congrats Champ!
Meantime I did my first duathlon at Kuwongba's Lakeside Raceway. What an effort! A really lumpy circuit and my cycling was pedestrian. I get too much pain around both knees (tendonitis) and just cant rotate. At least I gave it a go. Got chicked! 
Not sure about my results but will post when I get them. You can check the strava activity or the garmin activity is probably easier to see the run cycle run and then the run cycle run cycle run.

Team Reeves pacing Pete to Age % Record, sponsored by Ipswich Education Superannuation fund (Belly and?)

The Master now sports a genuine Heisenberg goatee!

The Master now sports  a genuine Heisenberg goatee!

Keith battles no competition stray dogs hills and still runs 95% !

This one is for Pete;
One of my all time favorites.

Parramatta parkrun 1st 16;22

On Friday I ran a tempo 10K on my Roo+Lake course. 
I reckon I have run it 2000+ times over the last 10 years. 
I ran my second fastest time ever! 
10.6km 38;22 ; 3.37K's
http://www.strava.com/activities/147094382
I was flat out as hard as I could go after about two or three K. 




I was a little disappointing about not being around in the evening to run a 10,000m on the track at the Q'Land Masters Champs as I was heading to Sydney to attend a wedding, leaving Friday arvo and returning Saturday evening. When I mentioned to the Mrs that there was a Parramatta parkrun (we were staying at ParkRoyal Parramatta) I did not expect to get an enthusiastic 'oh you must do it' (on the morning of the ceremony), so who was I to argue - other than I wouldn't have run flat out the day before if I was going to be 'racing' the following day!
In NSW they start their events at 8;00am which gave me plenty of time to find the place and warm up (brrr it was 14 O C!). The course was an 'out and back', following the river cycleway with a section of grass at the start/finish and two short inclines. At the start I got a little caught up behind some runners and didn't hit the front till 3 or 400m. I felt OK, not too stiff from Fridays effort. Slightly unnerving running a course you dont know but have checked on maps. The turnaround was actually around a small triangle of meeting pathways which I wasn't expecting. I worked hard but not absolutely flat out. I had a good lead and wasn't going to be beaten. Finished in 16;22 though I still have not got an official result as my bar scan must not have worked (I've emailed the organizers but heard nothing). The course ran 7 secs over 5k according to my Garmin which made it about the same as last week which was about 7 secs short according to Garmin.
I'm in good form, running at about 61/62kg which is light for me having cut my beers by about 98% over the last 2 or 3 months and dropping about 3kg.
May try my first duathlon (sprint distance) in two weeks time, then 10KM at Caloundra and at the GC.

Sandgate parkrun 24th May 2014

Sandgate parkrun 2nd 16:04

Somebody find me 4 seconds!
Perfect day no wind and about 18 O C
Two k warm up and a few strides. Line up and listen to a young triathlete ask his mate if he should take today easy with something on tomorrow. Start strong but breathing heavy so heavy in fact that I could not hear the kid triathlete was tucked in behind me. I only knew he was there when I looked at our shadow! I remember when I used to run easy enough to run the first k without getting into oxygen debt. I could also feel my heart rate rocketing which is very uncomfortable. Alex remained tucked in behind through the 180 degree turn reached in 7:59 fast!
The run back is tough as you feel the other runners washing over the pathway encroaching on your space. Young Alex gave a shout out at one point to get them over.
Managed to maintain a good pace but felt uncomfortable as I pushed on. Desperate to see the final K marker in about 12:50 to push on for just 3 more minutes. There is a big bend in the path as it goes around the pool before the finish , I thought I was dropping Alex but he came back strong and pulled away from me in the last 200m. Happy with the time though Garmin said 4.95km.
I'm sure my buddy the Robot will be exuberant as the age grading is unreal! 93:26% 2nd in Oz behind the Parramatta Queen.

Running with dogs

Lets go for a run dad!

Those of you with a keen eye for detail may have seen on my Strava feed that I have been going for occasional runs with my dog Sascha - she's a bitch about 9 months old. She's a cross between a Staffy and a Beagle. A Beagle would make a great running companion but I sense the Staffy in Sasch makes her ask the question 'why are we running and why wont dad let me sniff all the wondrous smells on offer around here?'. She starts off fine, with an incredible bouncy stride, but as soon as we hit the hill she starts lagging somewhat and I'm tugging her along! We are barely going Sub 5 min K pace. She's young and she probably needs more regular training. 
I dream of having a running companion that can run off the lead and 'sit' when we have to cross roads and challenges me to go faster. We had a Lab/Collie cross in the UK called Chester. He was a fantastic runner, he ran about double my distance along the paths and through the woods at Stanmore. If there was fox shite within a 10 mile radius, he'd find it, roll himself in it and then stick to my side! Luckily there was a lake near our home and I'd throw a stick and he'd dive in and take a bath regardless of how cold the water was. He'd fetch when there was ice in the lake! 
He was crazy mad, he once went sprinting off into a really muddy section of bog and did both his knee ligaments in one go - that cost us a few thousand pounds at the vets!
I notice quite a few people take their dog with them on parkrun and I have marveled at some ingenious water bottles with fold down doggy trays. I will take Sasch for a parkrun one of these days when she is more accustomed to passing another dog without a hackle raising barking fest or an arse sniffing getting to  know you (in a doggy way) dance. Surely someone has a record for running 5K with a dog ? Or is that cruel? pushing your bitch too hard? Chester would easily have beaten me if he ran in a straight line over 10 or 12 miles, Sasch is young and has a highly motivated daddy who will train her to run and to be a great running companion for those lonely Roo+Lake runs.
Here is an article on 'rules' for running with dogs
Robot - Pelican - Dog
This morning I got out for 30k on the bike @ just under 30kmph and will run lunchtime.

Don't disturb me - Its a recovery day!

The Corporate Games results are her;
http://www.corporategames.net.au/qld/pdf/results/qcgresults2014.pdf
For the run results scroll to the last page. My victory was about 3mins.

Corporate Games 10.14km 35;29 1st

That made it 6 wins from 6 starts!
Yeah OK not many runners runners in this but I'll take the victory thanks all the same
They started the 5 k and the 10k together which pleased me as staggering the two nearly always causes drama with the faster 5k runners or the faster 10k runners having to run through the others competitors. My aim was to run sub 35 and to "win" the 5k as well as the 10k.
Nearly managed both, hitting the front at the start and steadily pulling away from both fields. The courses is run on a cinder path alongside the river not very conducive to fast running. I went through the halfway in about 17:22 and the 10km just outside the track in 35:04, we finish on the track running 110m to the finish line. I'm happy enough with the time though seeing 34:xx would have been good for my first 10k in about 2years. I won by about 3mins and will go better on Tarmac. Due to run Gold Coast 10k where I've managed to score a seeded start (sub 34 Gawd help us !!)

UK Masters half Mara rankings 1990

I saw this photo on Facebook today and thought I'd share. Super depth and super fast times 24 years ago. Pretty sure the depth and speed have dropped away ,check out yourself on http://www.thepowerof10.info/the power of 10 website , register for enhanced rankings access its free!

The Hardened Correspondent!

Reevsey's comment following Minnippi was such a classic that it deserves full blogging rather than being left solely in the comments section!

"It is rare that this hardened sport's writer is moved to tears but it was difficult not to become emotional at a performance this morning of such sublimity , such tenacity and just such sheer raw courage that it is imprinted indelibly in the mind's eye of all who were privileged enough to witness it . This correspondent included . Of course the performance was owned by a person who needs no introduction on this blog . The man who made the humble Garmin a fashion statement . Countless millions around the world have traced the journey of this humble man from chimney sweep , to illegal alien to boat refugee and into our hearts all via Garmin connect . We have followed the adventures , trials and tribulations of this man , a pioneer no less , who has won our respect with a simple creed in life and a code of conduct which is to never forget your humble origins and always give of your best . The man known to us as Lord Garmin faced possibly the greatest challenge of his illustrious career today and responded as only champions can do. It was no secret that the knees this time were held together more with prayer than cartilage . His craggy features sun bleached and weathered . The hair a little thinner . A little greyer perhaps ? The torso a little more stooped than we remembered . Was Father Time ringing his relentless bell ? For whom did it toll ? Our hero ? The opposition was formidable for sure . For the most part far younger . Others disoriented and eccentric but none the less dangerous for that . The crowd who had for the most part come to see their hero stood ten deep in places . The sound of a lone bagpiper set a solemn tone . The morning air crisp but humid with expectation . The race started as such races do . A flourish of arms and limbs jockeying for an inch of advantage . A bare centimetre that could prove crucial at race's end . For the better part the race went to script . Until that was at the 3k mark , when our hero faltered ever so slightly . A greedy pack were on his tail eager to exploit any hesitancy . The heart was strong but was that slender slither of cartilage enough to hold out for one last time . The crowd looked on expectantly. Were they witnessing the demise of a champion ? Was the unthinkable about to become the unendurable ? Then a remarkable turnaround best captured by Lord Garmin himself when he related the incident to a hungry world media pack after the hysteria of the race had died away and tears wiped away . His Lordship takes up the story . " With a k to go I was shot . I realised my reign as world park running champion was drawing to a close . I could feel bone grinding on bone. The age graded pack circling in for the kill . Than for an instant I glimpsed the face of one of my countless supporters who had been camped out for days in those bitter fields of toxic waste and rotting mangroves. He was wheel chair bound and clutching a pathetically worn out Mr.Garmin doll . His face contorted in disbelief that I might lose . Tears welling in his eyes . I knew I had to find something . Not for myself but for those who believe in the Mr. Garmin story . The little people . Those who age grade in single digits . I had to do it for them ." Of course history now shows that our hero did find something . The results now etched in history. That slender fraction of an age graded percentage point that determines the great from the soon to be forgotten . For the record there were others in the race . A motley crew of pretenders . History will soon forget them . Minor actors in a play dominated by a giant of our times . Will we ever see his like again ? Probably not . He ascends into the ranks of the immortals . Those whose deeds grow taller over time with the telling of their story . More and more will claim to have been there that day and witnessed it first hand . Such is the stuff of legends . Some men leave us with memories others leave us with a legacy . All hail the GTrain . All hail the conquering hero . Will we see his likes again ? Probably not ." 

A super piece of writing Pete, very funny and much appreciated!

As for me, Winter has well and truly hit North Lakes! I was out yesterday in a long sleeve top that wasn't long enough to pull down onto my fists so my hands froze and it felt like I froze too but still ran 4;18's for 10.6. This morning I wasn't going to get caught again and wore a beaney on my head, compression tee shirt and a collared long sleeved jersey that I was able to pull over my hands! 4;19's for 10.6. Running Lake+Roo because it is pitch dark when I set off about 5;20am and have the benefit of street lighting around the lake before I hit the unlit section of Roo.
I have bought a cheap TT bike to see if it makes any difference to my speed. No point in spending thousands if the benefit is zilch and I ditch the idea of competing!
Appreciate that I need to do more cycling mileage as well.

Pete's 91.01% age grading went unrecognized in the Australian Rankings this week but safe to say he finished 2nd of the 8000+ runners who took part this week.

A disinterested Con, Dave Scroop, Pete, Me, Barry (wearing a Man City top!!)

The Garmin Lama award!

Lucky I ran a second quicker than Reevsey or my finger flick would be embarrassing!

Minnippi parkrun 1st 16;27

A fantastic day for us old timers at Minnippi Parklands this morning. What a race!
In the end the age grading came down to less than a second separating me from Peter Reeves also known as Reevsey or PJ and The Robot!
Good conditions, cool but a little windy on the first K (a slow 3;16) as I headed out into the lead with Peter Bracken tucked in behind me. After a KM of path we turn left onto the lakeside path and run clockwise around. I felt OK but not comfortable by any means, Peter Bracken was with me till about 3k when I must have eased away. That 4th K is always a killer and I suffered. After completing two laps around the lake we head back the way we came. I recognised I was overstraining and beginning to tie up so consciously tried to relax but the thought of Reevsey straining every last watt of energy into his effort kept popping up in my head making me strain once more. Over the bridge (4K) and looked at the watch 13;15 meant I could take it home under 16;30.
Great runs by all contributed to what we think was the best overall parkrun age grade group which should include Phil Davies 10th around 85% but bar scan failure will require manual input.
Special thanks to Barry and Olga for hosting breakfast and sponsoring the awards. 
That will be a hard act to follow!
Results are here;

http://www.parkrun.com.au/minnippi/results/latestresults/



I will post photos later.

1st km 3;15.8
2nd km 3;21.6
3rd km 3;20.5
4th km 3;18.3
5th km 3;11.0

Pete's consolation for the day was setting a parkrun Australia M60 Cat record!

"Reevesy used to be a runner in Ipswich and everyone knows him,"

Serenely running along in the dark this morning when at about the 4km mark a tickle in the back of my throat caused me to start coughing and cough I did for about a km - must have swallowed a fly without knowing it. Had to stop and drink. All was well. Cruised around the dampened paths of North Lakes holding myself back slightly to conserve what, I am not sure, but hoping to give my all at the Minnippi parkrun on Saturday.
Peter Reeves remains the out and out favorite to take 'age grading' honours as he routinely runs 94% on the track. I hope to keep him honest but will be pleased to limit the losses to 3% or under.

Peter is a colourful character read about the day he won over $6000 here;

http://www.qt.com.au/news/pj-masterful-to-snare-gift-peter-reeves/1370259/

He won the $3000 handicap prize plus he won $3000 at the bookies backing himself!! 
No wonder he was crying!!! $6000!!!

parkrun Race

Anyone who is an avid reader of this blog may have noticed an upturn in the number of comments coming in to my all too infrequent posts lately.
For the record, Barry Broe and Peter Reeves amongst others have set up next Saturdays Minnippi parkrun as a gathering of both Masters and the cream of Brisbane's running talent. 
I think it was just going to be a few old boys having a 5km blast at first but has gotten out of control with trophies being offered and the inclusion of serious young talent. With age and the onset of senility, the ability to seriously offer competition to the youngsters is compromised so the use and importance of the age grading % becomes more important as the days go by. It provides us with a tool to defeat the years and remember our youth.
For the record here are the current Australian parkrun age cat records;

Reevesey wont admit it but he is 'odds on' to take one (if not both) the trophies on offer.

As for me, more steady running containing the knee pain with Celebrex.
I did manage to get out the past two weekends on the bike too and Sunday ran some intervals around the square (!) at Woodside Oval (!) ran roughly 3.3km in about 3minute pace in the full sun barefoot!
For details check Garmin here ; http://connect.garmin.com/activity/487764431

North Lakes parkrun 1st 16;21

It was 16;25 on my watch but happy enough with effort, it hurt like hell. The two weeks off would have seen some diminution in my condition but that balanced by a glorious morning which was cooler than of late - probably about 18 O C. and no wind.
Heavy due on the grass made me start easy (risk of slipping) and before I knew it half a dozen kids were in front of me. I worked hard to reel them in by about 600m. Unknown to me the best of them managed to hang on pretty close to the finish (see photo below at end of second lap).
Elsewhere Bernie Portenski a 60+ year old female kiwi (former marathon great I'm told) ran 20;47 at New Farm for an incredible age grade 97%.
The knee has been under control with the anti inflammatory - still sore but runable.
Still just doing a steady run most days and trying to get out at the weekends on the bike and running 6K off the bike hard.

blood suckers

The anti inflams are keeping the knee pain to manageable proportions!
Saturday I managed 30km on the bike at 30kmph and jumped off and ran 42m52 Roo+Lake = 10.6km 4;03 km pace. It was really tough work in about 26 O C heat.
In the rain on Sunday I ran to the industrial park and did a loop of about 800m X 5 with a 100/150m jog recovery. Ran about 3;20km pace and then ran home for 15km all up (@ 3;56 km pace). Went back out on the mountain bike and went bush at the back of North Lakes. It was a bad move as after recent rains the mossies are in plague proportions and I was attacked by swarms of them biting me through my clothing on my back and arse.  I  tried riding one handed to swipe them off, then had a mechanical failure which allowed more  of the blood suckers to dine off me - I had a blood test a week or so ago and cant have much blood left in me. For the record my haematocrit  was 43 like everything normal.
Monday I ran 12.5km in the afternoon (@ 4;02km pace) and back to roo+ lake in the early morning darkness Tues and Wed 10.6km 4;20km and 4;16km pace.

 

Peter Reeves smashes Queensland M60 3km XC Record

Peter Reeves smashed the Queensland M60 3km XC Record at the weekend with a 10;55 at Minnippi Parklands.

The shaving off of the beard has not caused any noticeable diminution in performance!

Queensland Sprint Triathlon 6th April 2014

I still haven't seen official result on QT website but Frank Mahoney won M50. 
His celebrity status is built on winning just about every M50 Tri in Australia

My view as I walked down to transition area at Clontarf on Sunday

Interested to see how bikes were set up for transition and running gear for later.

This place is actually called Pelican Park!

I'm never going to do this!

Wet suits were allowed because of possibility of stingers. The water temp was probably 22/23oC.

 Frank (White grey wet suit)  is extreme left below.

Maybe if I cant run and I cant bike!

Love the long shadows cast by the early morning low sun.

I was interested in the riding styles

How closely do they uphold the no drafting no blocking rules?

Must be tough job calling drafting and blocking.

 Frank in white and grey top enjoying the warm conditions at sunny Clontarf!

I think this lady finished second, good style.